DFMDecember2016May2017
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READER PROFILE: SUSIE
CAMPBELL, GYPSY SAILOR
Susie Campbell has had a PRETTY VARIED
WORKING LIFE—along with being a PE teacher,
customer service manager at a department store,
and a self-employed marketing consultant, she
SPENT A DECADE IN THE ROYAL NAVY.
W
hen Susie
moved to
Australia
with her family in
2013, she didn’t know
a soul. But she was
determined to forge
a career for herself
despite the challenges
of parenting young
sons, Thomas and
Patrick, while husband
Johnny was at sea.
A gypsy at heart, Susie is
used to doing things a little
out of the ordinary. Patrick
was born in the middle of a
family holiday where they
spent five months travelling
around the United Kingdom
in a campervan!
“We had to be in Devon
by a certain day for Patrick’s
birth. We stayed there for a
few weeks to give me time to
recover then travelled on,”
said Susie.
“I’ve lived in all corners of
the UK and been fortunate
enough to explore the most
unusual parts of the world,
mixing with locals and
soaking up cultures.”
She and Johnny, now a
Marine Engineering Officer
with the Australian Navy, first
met on a British warship,
where they became friends
over a mutual love of sport,
with Susie introducing
Johnny to rugby, a particular
passion of hers!
When it came time to
make a decision about
moving to Australia, Susie
said it was simply a case of
trying something different.
But, despite always having
had a career, she had no idea
ofwhattodoforajobwhen
they got here.
“I couldn’t just go out and
get regular a job right away.
Self-employment was the
only way to go until we could
afford day care,” said Susie.
It was networking on
social media that presented
Susie with her first
opportunity—a local retailer
who needed help with
marketing and was happy
for her to work from home.
“I started with nothing
more than a laptop and
mobile phone, doing eight to
ten hours a week, during the
boys’ naps and at night,”
said Susie.
“As I picked up clients,
I was bringing in enough
money for a day of childcare,
then two days, and so it
went on.
“I sat at my computer
one evening and counted
four clients and thought,
I ought to do this properly!
So my marketing business
was born.
“It inspired me to use my
love of people and business
in a creative way and make
money flexibly around my
family, but with the capacity
to go big.
“And, being new to
Australia with no friends or
family, it was a super way to
meet people and feel like I
belonged.” n
TAMARA ROBINSON
Susie Campbell, with sons
Patrick, 4, and Thomas, 7.
Photo by Able Seaman
Bonny Gassner.